CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Service and Transportation Committee Meeting | Monday, November 8, 2021 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:30 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:08 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Gary Rosen | | Vice Chairperson Donna M Colorio | | Councilor Sarai Rivera |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Gary Rosen
Vice Chairperson Councilor Donna M Colorio
Councilor Sarai Rivera | | | | | Also: | City Solicitor Michael E. Traynor
Director of Cable Services Judy Warren
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle
Charter Director of Government Affairs John Maher
Assistant City Clerk Clare M. Robbins, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-in Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may join us directly within the Esther Howland (South), follow the below link to join via the WebEx application or dial the direct line as indicated. If you would like to raise your hand when in the meeting as a call-in user you may dial *3. – Phone Number: 415-655-0001, Access Code: 2308 716 4582.
https://cow.webex.com/cow/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb26af42db1e2acd5aab514d42eaf848e | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rosen read the item and recognized the following speakers:
1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
2. Evan Fowler, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
3. Regina Gagnon, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
4. Tammy (No last name given), Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
5. Ashley Rogers, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
6. (No name given), Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
7. Elizabeth Rogers, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
8. Jeffrey Levering, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor in opposition to item #3a and #3b
9. Phil Jackson, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
10. Jason Flannagan, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
11. Claire Baylor, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
12. Mauro DePasquale, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
13. Megan Tamalavitch, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
14. Vijay Kajla, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
15. James Carey, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
16. Denise P., Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
17. Anna S., Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
18. Charles Murigui, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
19. Geoffrey Webb, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
20. Anthony Matthews, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
21. Guillermo Creamer, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
22. Hope Alveras, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
23. John Casey, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
24. Judy Huang, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
25. Laura Matthew, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
26. Luis Garcia, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
27. Mark Borenstein, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
28. Matt B., Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
29. Morgan Copeland, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
30. Patti Gould, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
31. Patricia Degon, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
32. Chanice Beckford, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
33. Shameen W., Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
34. Jonathan Lettrin, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
35. Sheila Brenner, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
36. Victor Agudelo, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b
37. Dorothy Hargrove, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3b | |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Service and Transportation hereby approves the minutes of the Public Service and Transportation Committee meeting on March 25, 2021. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rosen read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the order. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent) | |
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| | | 3a. | Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the cable license renewal process.
# 9.13A CM October 19, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rosen read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #3b.
Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized Councilor Colorio, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the ascertainment process for cable contracts and licenses.
Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized Councilor Wally, who discussed the current process to create a municipal broadband for the city, similar municipal practices, funding for the infrastructure and challenges concerning the staffing level at the Spectrum/Charter customer service building.
Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized Charter Director of Government Affairs, who discussed public feedback concerning Spectrum/Charter services and challenges concerning rising costs of the services.
Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed the challenges concerning obtaining a la carte option for cable services, feasibility for plans relative to tier pricing for internet services and senior discounts, and plans concerning purchasing and software updates for the cable boxes with the Charter Director of Government Affairs.
Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed challenges concerning monopoly of internet and cable services by Spectrum/Charter.
Chairperson Councilor Rosen moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3b. | Order of Councilor Gary Rosen - In light of Charter/Spectrum's sweeping rate increases that will hike the cost of TV packages, internet service, equipment, and fees, request City Council's Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation hold one or more public hearings to: 1) survey customer satisfaction with this provider; 2) review the fairness of their rates for TV, internet and telephone service; 3) review the city's cable franchise agreement with this company and determine what future changes need to be made to lower costs and improve service; 4) determine whether our three PEG (Public, Educational, Government) Access channels are receiving the financial and other support they are entitled to through our franchise agreement and if, in a future contract, they can be located on channels in the “Basic Tier”; and 5) discuss the feasibility of inviting other companies to provide service to the city.
# 10c CC September 24, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a) | |
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| | | 4a. | Order of Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Khrystian E. King, Councilor Sarai Rivera, Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation Committee hold a public hearing to discuss both Senate Docket/SD 1541, an "Act directing all RTAs in the Commonwealth to establish at a minimum one-year fare free pilots to commence by December 31, 2021" and SD 2315, an "Act creating a New Deal for Transportation in the Commonwealth”, which calls for fare free RTAs and raises the revenue needed. SD 1541's primary sponsor is State Senator Patricia Jehlen, Second Middlesex District, and SD 2315's is State Senator Joseph Boncore, First Suffolk and Middlesex District, with Senator Harriette Chandler as a co-sponsor to both bills.
# 10h CC March 9, 2021
In Committee March 25, 2021 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rosen read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #4b and #4c.
Chairperson Councilor Rosen moved for a roll call vote to recommend item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 4b. | Order of Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Donna M. Colorio, Councilor Khrystian E. King, Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor Sarai Rivera, Councilor Sean M. Rose, Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey, Councilor Matthew E. Wally, Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation invite to an upcoming meeting representatives from the Worcester's disability community, the Director of Human Rights and Disabilities for the city, the city's taxi and ridesharing companies, and the WRTA to determine how equitable, accessible on-demand public transportation in Worcester can be expanded. In 2019, Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) provided over 1 million trips in Worcester but currently there are zero wheelchair accessible TNC vehicles. And, while Worcester has 110 licensed taxis, that includes only one wheelchair accessible vehicle.
# 11j CC December 15, 2020
In Committee February 9, 2021 - Held
| Attachments | | | In Committee for informational purposes only | | |
| | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a) | |
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| | | 4c. | Order of Councilor Gary Rosen - Request City Council’s Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation discuss the feasibility of having WRTA buses transport more Worcester Public School students to and from school. Further, request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation Committee consider all safety implications for youths who would utilize said services.
# 8c CC January 28, 2020
In Committee February 24, 2020 - Held
In Committee June 1, 2020 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a) | |
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